Sections

No matter how mature MRI becomes, the diverse utility of the modality is endless, as evidenced in the wide range of clinical applications to be discussed in the scientific sessions of RSNA 2019. Look at any one of a number of scheduled events and you are bound to find at least one presentation about MRI.

The natural evolution in magnet strength in recent years has resulted in clinical scanners operating at 7 tesla, enabling the ability to explore the causal depths of neurological conditions at levels of detail never seen before. Attendees will have a plethora of opportunities at RSNA 2019 to see how ultrahigh-field MRI is contributing to current knowledge on dementia and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases.

At the same time, some researchers are looking to "power down" MRI to determine if less is more for the modality. One novel project is looking into 0.55-tesla to determine how the lower-field technology might overcome the challenge of MRI accurately visualizing lung disease.

The current status of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) and the debate over potential long-term effects of gadolinium deposition again will garner much attention at RSNA 2019. Several sessions are scheduled to provide additional insights into the judicious use of GBCAs and detail cases, such as musculoskeletal imaging, where contrast might not be needed at all.

Tuesday's lineup includes a refresher course on GBCAs and a discussion of what clinicians should know about gadolinium deposition in brain tissue, the liver, and bone. The MRI safety session also includes the most appropriate way to handle patients with pacemakers and other implanted cardiac devices and, perhaps most importantly, how staff can create an oversight structure to eliminate unnecessary danger and accidents in the MRI suite.

Also on the agenda are novel MR modalities, such as MR elastography and MR spectroscopy, from which patients with liver or pelvic maladies, for example, can benefit. Naturally, session tracks on women's imaging will feature a number of MRI applications, ranging from detecting breast cancer to MRI-guided biopsy to safely determining the development of a fetus during gestation.

This year's RSNA meeting features hundreds of informative and novel scientific sessions, posters, refresher courses, and educational exhibits to advance your knowledge of how best to take advantage of MRI on a daily basis. You can find a full listing of the events through the RSNA 2019 meeting program.

In the meantime, we have highlighted a sample of the presentations scheduled for RSNA 2019.

Should clinicians proceed with an MRI scan if a patient refuses to remove a metal piercing? Researchers from the University of Rochester put that question to the test. They found that the answer depends on the accessory.

In this talk, Canadian researchers will discuss how an abbreviated breast MRI screening protocol in women with a high risk for breast cancer leads to fewer false positives and benign biopsies when compared with a conventional protocol -- and doesn't compromise the cancer detection rate.

Dr. Emanuel Kanal is bringing his perspective on gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs) and gadolinium retention to RSNA 2019 with this Tuesday talk based on what he tells patients, referring physicians, radiologists, and, yes, even attorneys.

Is saline or gadolinium the best option for an MR arthrogram to detect labral and rotator cuff injuries in the shoulder? To address that question, a team from Emory University conducted a retrospective study of patients who were referred over the course of 18 months for shoulder issues.

What should be included in an MRI spine report? Spinal canal dimensions and details of nerve root anomalies and disk herniation -- to name a few items on the radiology wish list, according to this Friday morning presentation.